The Lois and Doug Mitchell U Sports Athletes of the Year Awards, formerly known as the Lieutenant Governor Athletic Awards, Borden Ladner Gervais (BLG) Awards, and Howard, Mackie Awards, are given annually to top male and female athletes in Canadian universities that are members of U Sports. Each of the 56 member schools nominate a female and male athlete of the year which are further narrowed down to representatives from each of the four athletics conference of U Sports (Atlantic University Sport, Canada West Universities Athletic Association, Ontario University Athletics, and Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec). The eight nominees each receive a commemorative durilium ring and the two winners receive $10,000 post-graduate scholarships and are awarded the Doug and Lois Mitchell Trophy. The nominees must have participated in their sport for at least two years and cannot win the award more than once.
History The awards were founded in 1993 by Douglas Mitchell who wanted to provide more recognition for Canadian university athletes. They were initially named after Mitchell's law firm Howard, Mackie in Calgary, Alberta. After a merger of law firms in 2000, the awards were renamed the BLG Awards after the new law firm Borden Ladner Gervais. The awards were further rebranded as the Lieutenant Governor Athletic Awards in 2019 while continuing to be championed by Mitchell and his wife, Lois Mitchell, the 18th Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. The women's winner was awarded the Jim Thompson Trophy as of 2003 and the men's winner was awarded the Doug Mitchell Trophy as of 2009. Starting in 2020, both winners are awarded Doug & Lois Mitchell Trophies while the Jim Thompson Trophy is now given to a distinguished alumni beginning in 2021. The awards were rebranded again in 2021 as the Lois and Doug Mitchell U Sports Athletes of the Year Awards.
The annual awards live presentation featured the eight nominated athletes, live entertainment from notable canadian singers such as Nikki Yanofsky, Jordan McIntosh, Charlie Major, Gerry Dee (Mr.D.) to name but a few, and took place at the Jack Singer Concert Hall in front of an audience of peers, prominent political figures and business people. The event was recorded for broadcast on The Sports Network (TSN), one of Canada's major sports television networks. White Iron produced the original event from 1993 until 2001. Paul J. Toth assumed the duties of Producer and Lead Creative from 2008 until 2017, which he oversaw the transition from TSN to Sportsnet in 2012 until 2017 when it was no longer broadcast.
The BLG Awards event weekend was generally held in Calgary with the exception of 2009 & 2013 when it was held in Toronto and 2011 when the event was held in Vancouver.
List of past winners Year Female Male Athlete Sport School Athlete Sport School1992-93Diane Scott Volleyball University of WinnipegAndy Cameron Volleyball University of Calgary1993-94Sandra Carroll Basketball University of WinnipegTim Tindale Football University of Western Ontario1994-95Linda Thyer Track and field McGill UniversityBill Kubas Football Wilfrid Laurier University1995-96Justine Ellison Basketball University of TorontoDon Blair Football University of Calgary1996-97Terri-Lee Johannesson Basketball University of ManitobaCurtis Myden Swimming University of Calgary1997-98Foy Williams Track and field University of TorontoTitus Channer Basketball McMaster University1998-99Corinne Swirsky Ice hockey Concordia UniversityAlexandre Marchand Track and field Université de Sherbrooke1999-2000Jenny Cartmell Volleyball University of AlbertaMichael Potts Soccer University of Western Ontario2000-01Leighann Doan-Reimer Basketball University of CalgaryKojo Aidoo Football McMaster University2001-02Elizabeth Warden Swimming University of TorontoBrian Johns Swimming University of British Columbia2002-03Kim St. Pierre Ice hockey McGill UniversityRyan McKenzie Track and field University of Windsor2003-04Joanna Niemczewska Volleyball University of CalgaryAdam Ens Volleyball University of Saskatchewan2004-05Adrienne Power Track and field Dalhousie UniversityJesse Lumsden Football McMaster University2005-06Marylène Laplante Volleyball Université LavalOsvaldo Jeanty Basketball Carleton University2006-07Jessica Zelinka Track and field University of CalgaryJosh Howatson Volleyball Trinity Western University2007-08Laetitia Tchoualack Volleyball University of MontrealRob Hennigar Ice hockey University of New Brunswick2008-09Annamay Pierse Swimming University of British ColumbiaJoel Schumaland Volleyball University of Alberta2009-10Liz Cordonier Volleyball University of British ColumbiaErik Glavic Football University of Calgary2010-11Jessica Clemençon Basketball University of WindsorTyson Hinz Basketball Carleton University2011-12Ann-Sophie Bettez Ice hockey McGill UniversityMarc-André Dorion Ice hockey McGill University2012-13Shanice Marcelle Volleyball University of British ColumbiaKyle Quinlan Football McMaster University2013-14Justine Colley Basketball Saint Mary's UniversityPhilip Scrubb Basketball Carleton University2014-15Korissa Williams Basketball University of WindsorRoss Proudfoot Cross countryTrack and field University of Guelph2015-16Kylie Masse Swimming University of TorontoAndrew Buckley Football University of Calgary2016-17Arielle Roy-Petitclerc Soccer Université LavalPhilippe Maillet Ice hockey University of New Brunswick2017-18Marie-Alex Bélanger Volleyball University of MontrealKadre Gray Basketball Laurentian University2018-19Kiera Van Ryk Volleyball University of British ColumbiaMathieu Betts Football Université Laval2019-20Kelsey Wog Swimming University of ManitobaAboubacar Sissoko Soccer University of Montreal2021-22Sophie de Goede RugbyBasketball Queen's UniversityTre Ford FootballTrack and field University of Waterloo2022-23Sarah Gates Basketball McMaster UniversityGabriel Mastromatteo Swimming University of Toronto2023-24Audrey Leduc Track and field Université LavalJonathan Sénécal Football Université de Montréal2024-25Gage Grassick Basketball University of SaskatchewanTaylor Elgersma Football Wilfrid Laurier University2025-26Abby Guezen Volleyball University of AlbertaRyder Rattee Track and field University of Alberta
References
External links Official website